The California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD) is hosting its 74th annual conference at the Sheraton Hotel at the Sundial Bridge in Redding. The theme of this year’s CARCD conference is “Increasing Pace and Scale: Local Action for Water, Soil, and Forest Resilience.” The event taking place November 12-15 brings scientists, agriculturalists, legislators and various agency representatives together.
“Well the conference is a really great opportunity for RCD’s [resource conservation districts] to learn new tools, tricks of the trade, skills, things like that,” said CARCD Executive Director, Karen Buhr. “I think more than anything it’s a really awesome opportunity to bring together our partners – RCD’s, farmers, and ranchers – and get a chance to really talk about the things that sit at the intersection of agriculture and conservation so that we can all do our work better.”
The opening session of the conference will focus on the restoration efforts related to the Carr Fire, as well as diversity and inclusion in conservation. “Knowing that we were going to be based in Redding, we really couldn’t help but talk about what we think is one of the most pressing issues that RCD’s and communities are facing which is these catastrophic fires that are only growing in intensity, and size, and regularity,” Buhr noted.
The conference agenda is filled with a variety of different topics and features four different tracks of breakout sessions that are related to working lands, forest health, water management, and improving the relevance and visibility of RCD’s. The CARCD conference also celebrates the longstanding partnership between RCD’s and the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. Student finalists will also be offering presentations on conservation during the High School Speak-Off Competition.
“Every year we have an amazing set of high school students come and speak about whatever conservation topic is trending or is important and we think might be relevant,” said Buhr, who noted this year’s students will be speaking about the importance of the monarch butterfly. “We are just always blown away by the level of professionalism, and poise, and intelligence that these young people are able to demonstrate.”
Listen to Buhr’s interview below.
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